Congress Tackles FY26 Defense Budget Amid Pentagon's 11th-Hour Request

The Defense Department has made an 11th-hour request for a multiyear munitions package worth ’tens of billions of dollars’ as part of the FY26 budget, according to Sen. Chris Coons. The top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee expressed frustration with the lack of specifics about the request and criticized the Pentagon’s approach to working with appropriators. Breaking Defense reports that the department has been briefed on the proposal by Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, who acknowledged a $20 billion to $30 billion shortfall in critical munitions.